Hama beads, also known as fuse beads or ironing beads, are colourful plastic beads used to create figures, patterns and decorations. The beads are placed on a pegboard and fused together with ironing paper and a household iron.
Which size should you choose, and how do you iron Hama beads correctly? This guide explains the differences between Hama Mini, Midi and Maxi beads, the materials you need and how to prevent your finished design from curling.
Hama beads are available in three sizes. Each size requires a matching pegboard. Mini, Midi and Maxi beads therefore cannot be used together on the same pegboard or in the same design.
Hama Maxi beads have a diameter of 10 mm. Their large size makes them easy for young children to pick up and place on a pegboard.
Maxi beads are recommended for children aged approximately 3 years and older. They are ideal for practising fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination and are mainly used for larger, simple designs.
Hama Midi beads have a diameter of 5 mm and are the standard and most widely used Hama bead size. They are suitable for children aged approximately 5 years and older, as well as teenagers and adults.
Midi beads are available in a very wide range of colours, including basic, pastel, neon, glitter, transparent and glow-in-the-dark colours. They can be used for both simple figures and large, detailed projects.
Hama Mini beads have a diameter of only 2.5 mm. They are recommended for children aged approximately 10 years and older and for adults.
Their small size makes Mini beads ideal for highly detailed designs and pixel art. Working with them requires patience and a steady hand. Tweezers can make positioning the small beads easier.
To make a Hama bead design, you need:
You can also view our Hama Midi pegboards and Hama accessories.
